Welcome to B A L R O G

which aims to be a "complete" tome of information about the Roguelike Game phenomenon. To achieve that aim, I need help from YOU. If you know of a game that's not listed here but should be, please write! If you can enlighten me on the games listed under "rumoured", correct or add information to an existing entry, provide screenshots etc. please do so! If you feel the urge to write a detailed page for a game (out of altruism or something else), get in touch.

Note: If you want to have your game represented, or want to fill out information about a little-known game, grab a copy of this template and fill out all entries like this:

 %title%
 The Fantastic Game Blah

 %author%
 Me the Hacker!

 etc...

PS. I promise, this page will get a long overdue overhaul one of these years. I've probably only missed the newest 50-100 or so games or variants so far. The email address listed on this page actually works, by the way. The old one has not worked this past year, as a few of you have discovered.

Acknowledgements (moved to a separate page for aesthetic reasons...)
What are you talking about? What's a "roguelike game"?
Geneaology of roguelike games
- Rumoured games (no confirmed information)
Links to other roguelike-focused sites
Trivia ("firsts")
Obscure downloads

Geneaology & Chronology of Roguelike games

This list is presented as chronologically as possible. At last count there was 216 confirmed roguelike and pre-roguelike games on this list. Thus far, 23 games are presented in more detail on pages of their own, reachable by links in the list below.


Pre-roguelike style
-------------------

41. DND 		(1976-78)
 113. Telengard (character graphics, BASIC, 1981) (father:41)
  42.  Telengard 	(Avalon Hill 1982) (father: 113)
   43. PC Telengard	(1985)		(father: 42)
  104. The Caverns of Zoarre (1984)	(father: 113)
  154. Realms of Quest	(1992)		(spiritual father: 113)
 44. DND		(1984)		(father: 41)
  114. DND gwbasic	(1985)		(father: 44)
  115. Dungeons of the Necromancer's Domain (1988) (father: 44)
   116. Return to the Necromancer's Domain (1998) (father: 115)
  135. ADND		(1993)		(father: 44)

120. Temple of Apshai   (1979) 			(Atari 8-bit)
 121. Hellfire Warrior  (1980) (father: 120)	(Atari 8-bit)
 122. Gateway to Apshai (1982) (father: 120)	(Atari 8-bit)

83. Wizard's Castle	(aug 1980)
 119. Leygref's Castle	(1986)		(father: 83)

156. Black Dragon	(1982)

131. Dunzhin		(1982)
 132. Kaiv		(198?)		(father: 131)
  133. Wylde		(198?)		(father: 132)
   134. Ziggurat	(198?)		(father: 133)

98. Castle (Keep)       (jun 84)

130. The Dungeon	(1988)

146. Hogbear            (1989?)

Roguelike style
---------------

1. Rogue - Exploring the Dungeons of Doom (1980) (BSD UNIX version)
 87. Advanced Rogue	(1984)		(AT&T/Bell Labs version) (father: 1)
  105. UltraRogue	(jan 85)	(father: 87 v2.0)
   118. Urogue PC	(may 90)	(father: 105 v1.03)
 173. Superrogue        (1984)		(father: 1 v3.6)
 2. Rogue Clone 	(nov 87)	(BSD UNIX 4.4 LITE) (cloned from: 1 v5.3)
  117. College Rogue	(1990)		(father: 2, assumed)
  3. LinuxRogue 	(oct 92) 	(father: 2 v5.3)
   169. KRogue		(jan 00)	(father: 3)
  108. PocketRogue	(aug 98)	(father: 2 v5.3)
  200. iRogue		(jun 2000)	(father: 2 v5.3, uncle: 105)
 174. Xrogue		(1988?)		(father: 1 v5.3)

140. Dungeon (C= PET)	(1982)		(more info, anyone?)
    (perhaps this is the same as "Dungeon of Death" for C= PET ? )

19. (VMS) The Dungeons of Moria (mar 83)
 20. (VMS) Moria UB 	(1987) 		(father: 19 v4.8)
 22. PC-Moria 4.00+ 			(father: 19 v4.8)
 23. UNIX Moria 	(1988) 		(father: 19 v 4.8)
  24. PC-Moria 4.83 	(1988) 		(father: 23 v4.83)
  25. Amiga Moria 	(1988) 		(father: 23 v4.85)
   150. Moria 3D	(1997 or so?)	(father: 25 (?))
  26. BRUCE Moria 	(1988)		(father: 23 v4.85)
  27. UNIX Moria v5 	(1990)		(ancestors: 23, 24 & 26)
   33. The Pits of Angband (apr 91)	(father: 27 v5.2.1)
    34. PC Angband	(feb 93)  	(father: 33 v2.4.frog-knows, 
					 married: 33 v2.7.0, 1995)
     35. FAngband	(nov 93)	(father: 34 v1.31, uncle: 31)
     36. Angband--	(1993)		(father: 34 v1.31)
      37. Zangband	(apr 94?)	(father: 36 v1.1?, uncles: 33 & 35)
       74. ZangbandTk	(jun 98)	(father: 37 v2.1.0)
       40. CthAngband	(jul 98)	(father: 37 v2.1.0)
       162. Pziangband	(aug 98)	(father: 37 v2.1.0e, mother: 70)
       178. Gumband	(aug 98?)	(father: 37 v2.1.1c)
       102. PernAngband (oct 98)	(father: 37 v2.2.0)
        180. NewAngband (aug 2000)	(father: 102 v4.0.9)
	213. Iso-PernAngband (may 2001)	(father: 102 v4.1.5, mother: 212)
       106. GSNband     (nov 98)        (father: 37 v2.2.0)
       163. SBFband	(nov 99)	(father: 37 v2.2.3d)
       160. Zceband	(dec 99)	(father: 37 v2.11ce)
       191. ZangbA	(jun 2000)	(father: 37 v2.3.5)
     38. Bangband	(early 95)	(father: 34 v1.4.1)
      39. Sangband			(father: 38)
     76. Drangband	(1995?)		(father: 34 v1.4)
     72. Jangband / Angband/64	(jun 96)(father: 33 v2.7.9v6)
     65. GW-Angband	(oct 96)	(father: 33 v2.7.9v6)
     75. Cathband	(1996?)		(father: 33 v2.8.0)
     67. Kangband	(1997)		(father: 33 v2.8.2)
      90. KangbandTk	(sep 98)	(father: 67 v?)
      68. Kamband	(early 98)	(father: 67 v2.8.2c)
     69. Mangband	(mid-97)	(father: 33 v2.7.9)
      181. Pernmangband (nov 2000)	(father: 69 v0.6.1, mother: 102)
     85. Mac-Enh. Angband (mid-97)	(father: 33 v2.7.9v6)
     80. Quest Angband	(mid-97)	(father: 33 v2.8.1)
     82. Utumno		(mid-97)	(father: 33)
     66. Ironman Angband (nov 97)	(father: 33 v2.8.2)
     70. Psiband	(dec 97)	(father: 33 v2.8.3pre)
     71. Rangband	(1998)		(father: 33 v2.8.2)
     73. AngbandTk			(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     81. Yin-yangband	(feb 98)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     77. Goingband	(jul 98)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     79. Pangband	(jul 98)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     78. Oangband	(aug 98)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
      111. OangbandTk	(mar 99)	(father: 78 v0.32)
     185. Terminal Angband (july 99)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     183. FFVIIangband  (aug 99)        (father: 33 v2.8.3)
     161. DvEband	(oct 99)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     164. Sillyband	(oct 99)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     165. Team angband	(oct 99)	(father: 33 v2.8.3)
     179. MJband	(may 2000)	(father: 33 v2.8.5beta)
     184. LAngband	(june 2000)	(spiritual father: 33 v2.9.0)
     177. Eyangband     (oct 2000)	(father: 33 v2.9.1)
     182. UnAngband	(nov 2000)	(father: 33 v2.9.0)
     175. GSN2band      (nov 2000)	(father: 33 v2.9.1)
      176. Easyband	(jan 2001)	(father: 33 v2.9.1v2, mother: 175 v1.0)
     212. Iso-Angband	(feb 2001)	(father: 33 v2.9.1)
   28. Druid-Moria	(1991)		(father: 27 v5.5)
   31. Morgul		(1992)		(father: 27 v5.4)
   95. Umoria(Amiga GFX) (apr 92)	(father: 27 v5.4, uncle: 25)
   29. PMoria 		(1993) 		(father: 27 v5.5)
   32. CWM Moria	(late 93)	(father: 27 v5.5)
   201. kMoria		(late 2000)	(father: 27 v5.5.2)
   208. Russian Moria	(2000?)		(father: 27 v5.5.2)
 21. (VMS) Imoria 	(1989) 		(father: 19 v4.8)
  148. Jmoria		(199?)		(father: 21)
  89. Icmoria		(sep 98)	(father: 21 v4.85)
 30. BOSS		(nov 90)	(father: 19 v5.0)
  171. BOSSC            (mar 2000)      (father: 30 v2.4)

209. Oubliette		(1983)

123. Sword of Fargoal 	(1983)		(roguelike, originally for VIC20)

172. Out of the Shadows (1984)          (roguelike for ZX spectrum)

92. MAG			(1985)
 93. PC MAG		(1988)		(father: 92)

7. Hack 		(1985)
 8. Amiga Hack 				(father: 7 v1.0.3)
 9. PC Hack 				(father: 7 v1.0.3)
  10. HackLite 1 			(father: 9 v3.6.1, mother: 8 v1.03D)
  11. NetHack 		(1987) 		(father: 7 v3.5.1, mother: 9 v3.5.1)
   12. HackLite 2 	(may 92)	(father: 10 v1.0.0, mother: 11 v2.2)
   126. Nethack++(--)	(1992)		(father: 11 v3.0)
   14. NetHack, the Next Generation 	(father: 11 v3.1.2)
   15. NetHack+ 	(jun 94) 	(father: 11 v3.1.2)
    16. Slash 		(feb 96)	(father: 15 v1)
     17. SLASH'EM 	(nov 96)	(father: 16 v6 4.1.2E8)
   18. Qt NetHack 	(1998)		(father: 11 v3.2.0)
    61. Qt SLASH'EM	(1998)		(father: 18, mother: 17)
   159. GnomeHack	(sep 98)	(father: 11 v3.2.2)
   158. GTK+ Nethack	(okt 99)	(father: 11 v3.2.2)
   189. AllegroHack	(apr 2000)	(father: 11 v3.2.2)
   198. Lethe		(mar 2001)	(father: 11 v3.3.1)
   202. HackNet		(apr 2001)	(father: 11 v3.3.1)

4. The Caves of Larn 	(1986)
 5. PC Larn 		(1986) 	        (father: 4)
 6. Ultra Larn (Ularn)	(1989)		(father: 4)
  199. iLarn		(aug 2000)	(father: 6)

145. Moria 2		(jul 1986)

47. Omega		(1987)
 48. AmiOmega				(father: 47)
 101. Mac Omega				(father: 47)

127. Evets		(1987)

141. Kalawaum		(1987)

103. Dungeon of Doom	(198?)

62. Myth		(jun 89)

139. Doomsday 2000	(1989?)
 125. Mission: Thunderbolt (1992)	(father: 139)
  138. Mission: Firestorm  (199?)	(father: 125)

49. UnReal World	(1990)

214. MDG		(1990) (multiplayer, ascii-based, crossfire-ish game)

128. Sorcerer's Bane	(1991)

13. Dragon Crystal	(1991)

136. Morabis		(mar 91)

96. Fatal Labyrinth	(1991)

60. Castle of the Winds	(may 92)

55. Crossfire		(1992)

124. Dungeon!		(jan 93)

99. Dungeon Hack	(1993)

46. Alphaman		(1994)

97. Reaping the Dungeon	(1994)

45. Ragnarok		(1994?)
 151. Valhalla          (????)          (father: 45)

52. A.D.O.M.		(jul 94)

149. Dragon Maze 	(1994-95?)

57. Rogue's Quest	(jun 95)

94. RGAE		(oct 95)

84. MudHack		(early 96)

51. The Minstrel's Song	(1996)

53. Qhack		(dec 96)
 64. Adventurer of the Realm (mar 98)	(father: 53)

107. NewtHack		(dec 96)

215. Mythos		(1997 or earlier) (Mac commercial roguelike)

86. Diablo		(jan 97)
 216. Diablo II		(sep 2000) 	(father: 86)

50. Dungeon Crawl	(oct 97)

56. Over		(1997)

152. Interhack		(1997)

210. Zachistka Hervarda (1997) (russian roguelike, written in Pascal)

59. Dungeon: Descent	(dec 97)

54. Legend of Saladir	(jan 98)

147. PRogue		(apr 98)

58. L.O.R.D.		(jun 98)

153. Azure Dreams	(mid-98)

88. War of the Runes	(1998)

63. Halls of Danenth	(1998)

91. Portals		(sep 98)

129. UltraWhack		(sep 98)

100. VOtheD		(oct 98)

109. JSHack		(oct 98)

110. Rodun		(nov 98)

142. Underdark		(late 98)

157. VSHack (japanese)	(dec 98)

144. Tyrant		(jan 99)

137. ShadowDale / Kharne:The Revelation	(feb 99)

112. Yashiir		(mar 99)

143. Ninevon		(apr 99)

166. Star Rogue		(may 99)

188. Legends of Valdor  (jul 99)

167. Claw and Sword	(oct 99)

170. Escape from Silver Keep (2000 or earlier)

211. Domain Country	(2000)

155. Silmar		(jan 2000)

168. The 4th age: The Lost Rings (feb 2000)

190. Tower of Darkness	(feb 2000)

186. Hero		(mar 2000)

187. Nethermost Wanderings (apr 2000)

206. Fantasy Lands Mini Mud (apr 2000)

207. Infinity		(aug 2000)

192. Egoboo		(oct 2000)

193. Torneko: the last hope (nov 2000)

194. Slaves to Armok	(dec 2000)

195. Stronghold		(jan 2001)

196. Pocket Dimension	(jan 2001)

197. DeadCold		(mar 2001)

205. DungeonDweller	(mar 2001)

203. Khaos		(apr 2001)

204. Umbra		(may 2001)

Rumoured games:

(Help wanted. Any certainities about these games? Any games to add to the list? ... any info appreciated, preferably in as great quantities as possible...)

Dungeon Crawl (IBM Basic, early 80's... anyone?)
Lore (last sighted at an IBM mainframe, University of Iowa, 1982-84... does it still exist somewhere? And if so, is it roguelike?)
Journey of Ulysses (Mac II roguelike?)
Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon I & II (Japanese RPG's for PSX - is this roguelike?)
Lufia II (SNES) - subquest Ancient Cave - roguelike?
Labyrinth ... ca 1987 ... played very much like Hack, was sold commercially by some company or other... anyone?
The Valley - I'm sure I've played this one many years ago, but I can't remember anything else about it - anyone?
Azure Dreams (Japanese RPG for PSX) - Konami/KCET
Evolution (jan 99) (small, short, graphical, team-based, predefined-characters, random dungeons, menu-based combat ... roguelike? for the Sega Dreamcast)
Lucifer - sounds like a Castle-type game?

Old games that positively are NOT roguelike:
(listed to avoid further inquiries about them)

Magus (old DOS VGA RPG)
Phantasia (1985, early ancestor of today's MUDs. Very little roguelike in it. Here I disagree with the old r.g.r.m. FAQ)
Wanderer (box-pushing puzzle)
Conquer, xconq (X11 wargame)
The Land (CGA graphics, set in the world of Thomas Covenant, probably a glaring copyright infringement. Ultima-style RPG.) (Thanks to: R.N. Dominick)
The whole MU* category (anything with MU(something) in its name is very probably not roguelike)
Captain Magneto I-II (Mac, ca. 1985-86 - probably not roguelike)
Mazogs (Spectrum ZX game - roguelike? ... not very...)
Deep Dungeon I-IV - Japanese NES first-person view RPG's, 1986-91 or so
Deep Dungeon (Windows CE) - described as a cross between RPG and action. 1998 or so. Doesn't sound roguelike.

Not quite boring links

Boudewijn Waijers' pages about Roguelike Games, including binaries/source of quite a few old and hard-to-find games. Hack, Rogue and Larn, to name a few. Not fancy, but lots of content.

Welcome to B A L R O G

Table of Contents

Geneaology & Chronology of Roguelike games

Not quite boring links